James has been active as a performer and educator in the Denver area since 1996.

James earned his Bachelor of Music Degree from Utah State University in 1991, where he studied with noted guitar educator and author Michael Christiansen.  From 1994-1996, James taught guitar at Salt Lake Community College.  Studying with Charles Wolzien, completed his Master’s Degree in Music at the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1999 and recently completed his Doctorate with a guitar emphasis from the same institution. James has had the honor of performing in Masterclasses for some of the finest guitarists in the world, including Christopher Parkening, John Williams and Sergio Assad.

James teaches guitar on the faculty at Regis University in Denver and Music Appreciation at Front Range Community College in Westminster.  He also teaches guitar to younger children at the Rocky Mountain Center for Musical Arts in Lafayette.  James and his wife Jennifer live in Thornton, Colorado with their daughter Olivia.